Help Them We Should

Devotions ChopChop ^ | March 18, 2009 | Dave Miller (tenger)

[tenger]

A poor man's field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away. Proverbs 13:23

If you do a quick search throughout the Scriptures, you'll see that God has a special place in his heart for the poor and needy and those who cannot defend themselves. The poor rarely have an honest voice (when they have a voice at all) in government. In many lands, what they do have is ripped away by greedy bureaucrats and power-hungry officials.

Stop today to consider the plight of the poor and the needy. Many, through no fault of their own, are in desperate situations. We all need discernment in how to help. But help them we should.

[ChetNavVet]

I must ask you a question tenger, am I to insinuate that you mean we sholud help the private property owning -individual private farmer, that nowadays is almost non existant, or the poor folk that got home loans they did’nt qualify for in the first place.

I sense a lurker, and if yer not - explain - and don’t use the bible.

[autumnraine]

Why did my read this in Yoda’s voice?

[mylife]

The same reason I did.

[Moozle]

We can and should do this on an individual level. We do not need government to do it in our name. When they take charge, injustice does often prevail, as their own interests are served more than the needy.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

Well he has been around longer than you or I, although I am not familiar with him. Since there is no political content in his comment, I would give him the benefit of the doubt in stating a basic tenet of proper Christian behavior.

[hershey]

If everyone did something practical to help the poor and needy...perhaps shopping for a shut-in, visiting once a week, taking them to the doctor’s, passing on goods to them that you don’t need, etc., it would not only help them, it would make you feel better. One of the wonderful effects of simple kindness and generosity (what you can afford in time and/or money or goods), is that it’s therapy for you. Amazing.

[Just mythoughts]

So why did Christ say there would always be ‘poor’ among us?

How many soup kitchens did Christ establish? And what about the powerful who knowingly pass laws to institutionalize poverty so as to always have power?

My children NEVER had the same appreciation for anything I gave them as they do for anything they worked hard to earn or achieve.

[hershey]

One more amazing thing...I’ve often found that the most generous are those who have the least.

[tenger]

A lurker. That’s funny. I had no idea that helping the poor would be so controversial or political.

[tenger]

Who’s Yoda?

[seemoAR]

The bigger problem we have with the poor and needy is the fact that many would rather sit down and suck Uncles teat. Since you brought up the Bible, try 1 Timothy 5:8. “But it any provide not for his own and specially for his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel”.

[tenger]

Boys and girls, my frame of reference is Sudan. Through no fault of their own. The poor. The needy. not "uncle's teat" in the least. Perhaps in Uncle's gunsights is more appropriate.

Folks, I didn't write the new or old testament, which is where you'll find a variety of verses related to the poor, the needy, the orphan, and oh yes, the foreigner (half of you went ballistic on that one). Read it, it's there. It's not mine to prove; it's yours to disprove if you're so strongly against assisting the poor.

And please don't be so quick to judge.

[autumnraine]

From Star Wars. The little green man that trains Luke Skywalker.

[seemoAR]

OK, little Boy. Where is any mention of the Sudan. What was wrong with what I wrote?. Now who is judging?

[tenger]

Context, my friend. Those who have been following my devotionals (my mistake for not annotating it as such; I normally do) know I've talked about Sudan these last few months during my daily posted devotional. What if I didn't have a Sudan context? Does it apply to any nation in the world? There will always be poor, needy, orphans, widows. In the West. In Africa. In the East. In every nation in the world. Poverty has no political boundaries.

I sense a lurker, and if yer not - explain - and don’t use the bible.

This is a way to minimize what I had to say, as if "he's new here and only lurking, so his point isn't valid." That's what I'm talking about, rushing to judgment. Would it make a difference if I was a lurker? At all?

"and don't use the Bible" Hmmm. It's a devotional. From the Bible.

[seemoAR]

What do you think should be punishment for people who make a living from other people's misery? Charities exist that give only a very small portion of the contributions to the needy. Do you think poverty exist in the USA? Why do you think we should give to people in other Countries and not to our local neighbors?

I am not your friend. Boy.

[tenger]

What do you think should be punishment for people who make a living from other people's misery? Charities exist that give only a very small portion of the contributions to the needy. Do you think poverty exist in the USA? Why do you think we should give to people in other Countries and not to our local neighbors?

I am not your friend. Boy.

Like I said, Friend, looks like you're all over the map on this one. Friend, you say there's no poor in the US? Wow. I'm speechless. All charities aren't required to give to the needy. God didn't say This Charity or THat Foundation to give to the needy. He told US to do it. You and me. US. Individuals, friend, individuals. We're wealthy enough to give to others around the world.

But according to you, Friend, there's no poor, so if there's no poor, why not spread the wealth as you are so led? (hoarding it and burying it in the ground is also an option)

Or just ignore a thread written by a concerned traveling friend on this road of life.

Your Friend,
tenger

[seemoAR]

I am not the one that is all over the map on this one. You are(Sudan). Where did I say no poverty exist in the US? Do you have a problem reading English? Why didn't you answer the question about people profiting from the misery of others?

I would rather give money to a wino on the street than to a so-called charity. At least, I would know how the money would be spent. How much money does your scam bring in every year?

You are very funny.

Not YOUR friend,

seemoAR